Varroa mites have been the single greatest threat to modern beekeeping since their arrival in the United States in the 1980s. These tiny, blood-feeding parasites have devastated colonies across the country. In recent years, winter colony losses have hovered between 30 and 40 percent nationally, and in some regions, the numbers are worse. Some surveys … Read more
If you’re not taking good notes, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Whether you’re managing two hives in the backyard or twenty in a full-size apiary, the decisions you make as a beekeeper are only as good as the information you remember. And let’s be honest, no one remembers everything. That’s why taking notes matters. … Read more
When people talk about preparing for their first hive inspection, they usually mention reading books, watching videos, or asking questions in a local bee club. All of that helps, but nothing replaces actually putting your hands on your equipment and walking through the steps. That’s where mock hive inspections come in. These are dry runs—inspections without bees—that … Read more
One of the most frustrating things in beekeeping is watching half of your strongest colony leave. You’ve nurtured them all year, made it through winter, and now just as the hive is hitting its stride, they decide to take off. Swarming is a natural part of colony reproduction, but as a beekeeper, it’s something I … Read more
Swarming can rob you of half a colony right at the peak of spring buildup. If you’ve ever opened a hive and found queen cells while the original queen is still inside, you know you’re on borrowed time. One strategy that many beekeepers use to interrupt swarm behavior without actually splitting the colony is the … Read more
Every spring I get flooded with messages like:“I had a few hives that didn’t make it through the winter, but I’ve got some frames of honey left. Can I use them in a new hive this year?” The short answer is yes, in most cases you can, but there are a few important things to consider … Read more